Bikers And Walkers Rejoice: Schuylkill River Trail To Be Linked To Chester Valley Trail

NORRISTOWN, PA — Officials broke ground on a key extension of the Chester Valley Trail last week that will link it with the Schuylkill River Trail, creating a walkable and bikeable connection between of the region's largest and most well-known trails.

The 3.8 mile extension of the Chester Valley Trail will connect a final crucial piece, running from King of Prussia to Norristown. Work is slated to be completed by Oct. 2022.

Officials said the connection would be transformative for residents in the region.

"Among many other lessons, the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly highlighted how important our trails are to our residents—with trails experiencing significant increases in use this past year," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said. "The significance of completing this nearly 4-mile gap in the Chester Valley Trail cannot be overstated. It will literally transform the ability to recreate and commute between Chester County and points throughout Montgomery County."

Currently, the Chester Valley Trail runs for 14.5 miles from Exton to King of Prussia. There are plans to build it out even further west. The Schuylkill River Trail links Philadelphia to the rest of Montgomery County and beyond, with plans to connect all the missing pieces out to the headwaters near Pottsville, Schuylkill County.

Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence noted that there was still work to be done to make trails more visible and accessible to urban areas.

“While the construction and connection of Chester Valley Trail will contribute toward addressing some of these disparities, it is incumbent upon all of us to continue exploring ways to encourage all of our communities and residents to explore and enjoy these incredible assets, especially those who have traditionally not had the opportunity to do so," he said.

The new path will be 10 to 12 feet wide and will be paved.

The construction will include constructing a pair of new pedestrian bridges: one at South Gulph Road and another at Henderson Road. It will also improve another two bridges for better bike and pedestrian access.

Finally, the historic freight house in Norristown, at the confluence of the two trails, will be renovated.

Numerous sponsors are supporting the work. Some funds come from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ),while other partners are the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources C2P2 grant program, and the William Penn Foundation.